On October 1, 2025, Lt Gen Virendra Vats assumed charge as the 35th Director General of the National Cadet Corps, succeeding Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh in a handover ceremony in New Delhi. His arrival coincides with the NCC’s expansion to 20 lakh cadets across 28 states and 8 union territories, as the organisation aligns with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, according to a UNI report.
Who is Lt. Gen Virendra Vats?
Commissioned in 1988 with 19 Kumaon, Vats served on India’s security frontlines from Kashmir to Arunachal, and led a UN peacekeeping brigade in Congo. His honours, including the YSM, SM, and VSM, mark gallantry and distinguished service. He has also served at Army Headquarters and taught at the Defence Services Staff College, as a PIB press release reads.
Defence enthusiasts and institutions welcomed the transition. “With 37 years of service, he now leads the corps towards its vision of 20 lakh cadets, shaping youth with the spirit of Unity & Discipline and dream of Viksit Bharat,” posted NCC IIT Roorkee.
As Lt Gen Vats takes charge, the NCC stands at a crossroads, balancing its historic role in shaping disciplined citizens with the demands of a rapidly changing India.
